Flue construction and immersion



July 21, 1942.

A. J. TURPIN FLUE CONSTRUCTION AND IMMERSION HEATING UNIT EMBODYING SAME Filed June 24, 1941 1 N VEN TOR. AL EXA IVDER 4/. TURF/N ATTORNEY.

Patented July 21, 1942 FLUE CONSTRUCTION AND HEATING UNIT EMBODYING IMMERSION THE SAME Alexander J. Turpin, Stewart Manor, N. Y., as-

signor to Hauck Manufacturing Company,

Brooklyn, N. Y.,

a corporation of New York Application June 24, 1941, Serial No. 399,466 4 Claims. (01. 126-360) The invention relates to flue construction, more especially to a flue designed to cause'agitation or turbulence in the flow of a fluid therethrough with a minimum of retardation; also, to the embodiment of the novel flue in a heating unit adapted for immersion in a liquid to be heated.

The invention has for an object to provide a flue of this nature which will be simple in construction and readily assembled, and wherein horizontal surfaces will be absent so far as possible.

A further object of the invention is to provide a turbulence-creating flue of any desired conformation through the assembly of identical sections, tending thereby to create a rotational advance of fluid flowing therethrough.

The invention has for an object, also, to provide turbulence-creating means which will at the same time enhance th heating effect of a flue when the same conveys a heating medium.

Another object of the invention is to provide an immersion-heater unit of novel construction and including the novel flue member.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a plurality of adjacently disposed flue sections matched to provide a closed duct when the same are assembled along their respective longitudinal edges, each of the sections having a single inwardly-turned flange along one of its edges, a flanged edge of one section being juxtaposed to a straight, free edge of an adjacent section in assembling the sections.

'The respective flanges, furthermore, are slitted transversely inwardly from the free edge thereof to afiord separate bafiie elements which are displaced out of the normal plane of a flange. Respective sections are secured to one another along the seams as by welding or otherwise joining the same to afiord a fluid-tight joint.

The nature of the invention, however, will best be understood when described in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of two sections constituting a flue member, the sections being separated to show more clearly the bafile elements thereof.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the flue members embodied in a heating unit adapted for immersion in a liquid to be heated.

Pig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 1 of the drawing.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the sections assembled and with a portion of the wall broken away.

Figs. 5 and 6 are respective vertical sections through flue members or contours approaching circular conformation.

Referring to the drawing, l0 designates an angular or channeled flue section adapted to be juxtaposed to a flue section II, of identical shape but reversely located, to afiord in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 a substantially diamondshape flue when the two sections are assembled, as indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawing. A flue thus assembled avoids to a large extent external horizontal surfaces which impede the free circu iation of fluids designed to be heated by the flue when the latter is immersed therein.

The section I0 is provided along its one edge more closely [2 II is provided along its edge M with a flange portion [5, both flanges being directed inwardly and the sections so arranged with respect to each other that their respective flanges are substantially in a commgr plane when the two sections are assembled, ,mdlcated in Fig. 4. Each flange is inwardl itted over its full length transversely at eq tervals, providing thereby a series of fins which are displaced out of the normal planeof the flange, as by twisting the same to extend both above and below said plane. These fins thus afford vanes M for creating turbulence in the flue of fluid passing therethrough. By assembling identical sections in reverse location, as indicated, one set of the vanes will then direct the flow downwardly while the opposite set will direct the same upwardly to cre ate thereby rotational turbulence in the travel of the fluid through a flue. At the same time, these fins provide for increased heating surface and thus enhance the heating efiect of a flue.

The seams thus provided along the coacting edges of the sections, each embodying a flanged edge, are united in any suitable manner, for example, in the case of metal flues as by a weld It, or the same may be brazed or otherwise joined to aiiord a fluid-tight joint thereat.

While the sections indicated in Figs. 1, 3, and 4 are of a rectangular or diamond-shape conformation, various other conformations are possible, with the sections in each case being identical and each being provided along one of its edges with a single inwardly turned flange. Thus, as indicated in Fig. 5 of the drawing, three individual angular sections 20, 2|, and 22 are assembled to provide a hexagonal shaped flue; and the section 20 is provided with the inwardly turned flange 23, the section 2| with the inwardly turned flange 24, and the section 22 with the inwardly turned flange 25.

with a flange I3 while the cooperating section.

Similarly, as indicated inFig. 6 of the drawing, four sections 30, 3|, 32, and 33 are assembled with respective inwardly turned flanges 34, 35, 38, and 31. The assembly of these different conformations is similar to that of the rectangular or diamond-shaped form and is such that the free edge of one section abuts the flanged-edge portion of the cooperating adjacent section.

This particular type of flue is especially effective in the construction and operation of immersion heating units for liquid, for example, such as are utilized in the melting kettles for bituminous material and the like. In units of this nature, while it is desirable to have the flue which receives a directed flame or the like from a burner substantially unobstructed, to prevent overheating and/or burning of this flue, for best efliciency it is desirable to provide thereafter turbulence in the flow of heated gases, as through a return flue or flues. Therefore, by combining a substantially unobstructed flue with one or more return flues. such as the novel flue hereinbefore described, to provide turbulence in the return flow, a very eflicient and satisfactory heating unit is attained. Moreover, in providing the agitation or turbulence of the gases in a return flue, formation of cold gas laminae, which tend to insulate the hot gases passing through the flue, is obviated, the heat being more effectively distributed throughout the flue and consequently to the liquid or other medium to be heated thereby. This is further enhanced through the provision of the baifle elements.

Reference being had to Fig. 2 of the drawing, an immersion unit is indicated embodying the novel flue elements. As shown, an intermediate flue 40 is provided, in the present instance of hexagonal conformation, being constructed of two halves or sections 4| and 42 having the respective flanges l3 and 44. These flanges, however, are not slitted nor bent out of their normal plane, and merely run in the direction of flow of the gases, acting as reinforcing ribs for the flue. One or more return flues with baiiies, as the flues 45 and 46, are located adjacently the said flue 40 and communicate with the discharge end of this flue through a T-connection 41. At the entrance end, flue lll communicates with a terminal member 50 to which are directed also the inner ends of the flues l5 and 46, the spent gases being discharged through outlets 5| and 52, respectively, while the flue 40 is designed to receive the discharge or directed flame from a, burner (not shown) adapted to be supported on the bottom 53 of the terminal member 50, as is well understood.

I claim:

1. A flue for inducing turbulence in the flow of a gaseous medium therethrough, comprising a plurality of longitudinal, identical channeled sections matched to provide a closed flue when assembled along their respective longitudinal edges, said sections having inwardly turned flanges from one edge slitted transversely toward a said edge along a flange to afford, when the sections are assembled, longitudinally extending and transversely separated sets of individual baflie elements displaced out of the normal plane of a flange transversely to the flow, and the sections being secured to one another along their scams.

2. A flue for inducing turbulence in the flow of a gaseous medium therethrough, comprising a pair of identical, longitudinal, angular sections matched to provide a, closed flue when assembled along their respective longitudinal edges, said sections having inwardly turned flanges from one edge lying substantially in a common plane and slitted transversely toward a said edge along a flange to afford, when the sections are assembled,

longitudinally extending and transversely separated sets of individual baiiie elements displaced out of the normal plane of a flange transversely to the flow, and the sections being secured to one another along their seams.

3. A flue for inducing turbulence in the flow of a gaseous medium therethrough, comprising a plurality of longitudinal, identical channeled sections matched to provide a closed flue when assembled along their respective longitudinal edges, said sections having inwardly turned flanges from one edge slltted transversely toward a said edge along a flange to afford, when the sections are assembled, longitudinally extending and transversely separated sets of individual ba'tlle elements, one portion thereof being displaced upwardly and another downwardly transversely to the flow, and the sections being secured to one another along their seams.

4. A return flue heating unit for immersion in a liquid to be heated, comprising a plurality of adjacently disposed flues extending substantially parallel to one another and each comprising a plurality of longitudinal, identical channeled sections matched to provide a closed flue when assembled along their respective longitudinal edges, one flue being adapted to receive a directed flame from a burner member, presenting an unobstructed flow thereto and at the opposite end communicating with the remainder of the flues, the sections forming said last-named flues having inwardly turned flanges from one edge slitted transversely toward a said edge along a flange to afford, when the sections are assembled, longitudinally extending and transversely separated sets of individual baflie elements displaced out of the normal plane of a flange transversely to the flow to induce turbulence in the flow of gaseous medium through said flues, all of said sections being secured to one anotheralong their seams.

ALEXANDER JQTURPm. 

